San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. CLIFFORD OTO/THE RECORD

Here is today’s column on new laws allowing the public to see police misconduct records. There are catches and conditions in these laws. Overal, though, they are a big step in the right direction.

Below is the complete statement by San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori-Verber Salazar on these new laws, followed by a chart of “officer-involved critical incidents” — police shootings and other incidents the D.A.’s Office is currently handling.

“The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office supports opportunities to increase transparency. Two new California laws (Senate Bill 1421 and Assembly Bill 748) will allow the community to become informed and empowered to make a determination about events covered by these laws.

“Our Office has taken steps, long before any legislation, to provide transparency surrounding police involved fatal incidents. Our Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) Unit and I have been working collaboratively with community stakeholders, community-based organizations, and law enforcement to maintain an open dialogue on these issues.

“Our work in this area has allowed the District Attorney’s Office to become a national voice in finding solutions to the issues confronted by law enforcement and citizens regarding these critical incidents. I have met, and continue to do so, with elected prosecutors across the nation in various forums sharing ideas and working on dealing with the problems in this area.” – District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar

“NOTE: Both SB 1421 Assembly Bill 748 amend the California Public Records Act and each contain exceptions to protect either privacy or an active investigation.

*     *     *

The Office policy addresses more than officer-involved shootings. Our Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) Unit and Bureau of Investigations deals with critical incidents. These are incidents where a fatality, or sometimes a near-fatality, occurs during an encounter with law enforcement. This broad definition does not presupposed legal culpability.

There are currently twelve open OICI cases in the county that are either (a) being actively investigated; (b) being reviewed by our Office; or, (c) being prosecuted by our office.

 *     *     *

 Finally, Here is a SacBee Op-ed on police shootings and the law by the awesome scholar Erwin Chermerinsky.

Winnemem Wintu tribe government liaison Gary Mulcahy speaks at a Restore the Delta press conference in Stockton on Monday. CLIFFORD OTO/THE RECORD

One bad aspect of WaterFix I failed to fully appreciate is the impact the twin tunnels would have on the Winnemem Wintu Tribe of Northern California. I knew they ate salmon via subsistence fishing, and that water diversions have drastically reduced their catch. But salmon are actually the nucleus of their whole culture.

“In our creation story we were brought forth from a sacred spring on Mt. Shasta,” a tribal representative says in Restore the Delta’s new report. “We were pretty helpless, couldn’t speak, pretty insignificant. But the Salmon, the Nur, took pity on us and gave us their voice, and in return we promised to always speak for them.”

The Winnemen Wintu see Shasta Dam, which flooded 90 percent of their lands without compensation, as a “weapon of mass destruction.” Y0u can imagine what they think of WaterFix.

The capitol of Cal-Mex cuisine?

Gustavo Arrelano of the LA Times says ‘Cal-Mex’ food should be declared the state cuisine. Agreed!

Arrelano recommends visiting Mi Ranchito, among other places, as a way to “inspire Californians to explore their state one delicious bite at a time.”

Arrelano visited Stockton in July. He must have been totally smitten with the Steak Ranchero, the likes of which he’d never eaten. This is the second time he’s mentioned it.

“You must visit different regions to grasp the nature of our foodways,” he writes. “Swing through the Central Valley and order Steak Ranchero, the region’s favorite Cal-Mex entree. Go visit Mi Ranchito in Stockton and feast on huge combo plates with a side of chicanas, an appetizer of sauteed steak and vegetables found only in Northern California.”

Arrellano also bulls-eyes one of my pet peeves: San Francisco’s conceit that it invented cuisine based on fresh, local food.

“The California cuisine pioneered by Alice Waters, Wolfgang Puck and others was important, because it taught urban and suburban diners that the best food is the freshest, healthiest and most local, and that fusion food can be fun. But let’s be honest: all they did was ape the farmers and immigrants who’ve eaten like that for generations, but never got book deals out of it.”

New marina manager Chris Agro in the city's new little market on Stockton's waterfront.

SMG, the citys’ venue management company, took over the municipal marina last Spring. “Our entire vision is just to make this whole waterfront a destination and bring people down here,” said Kendra Clark, SMG’s local manager.

In June Clark promised changes, such as WiFi at the marina, and coming attractions, such as popular music bands playing at the south bank amphitheater. She hoped bands would be happening by July.

Well, it’s August and the bands are not happening. So I called Clark just to see where SMG is with its plans.

“Things are moving along,” said Clark. Not as fast as hoped, though. SMG discovered that the city owns only part of the amphitheater area; “three-quarters” are owned by the (new) owners of the Waterfront Warehouse.

“We’re currently in discussions with the Warehouse,” said Clark, who characterized negotiations as “Good, good. The owners have been wonderful. We share a vision down there.”

The city owns the other part after buying the waterfront towers as the new City Hall. City officials support the resurrection of the amphitheater, so it’s just a question of hammering out a joint operating agreement.

Clark hopes for concerts by fall.

SMG hired a new marina manager, Clark said. Chris Magro, a native New Yorker, has for the last 14 years managed the largest urban marina in the United Kingdom. So, “He brings the urban marina experience,” Clark said.

The “urban marina experience” includes not only dealing with marina tenants but homeless people and a plague of petty crime along the waterfront. Clark said SMG has doubled security. Guards now patrol the north and south banks 24/7, and they’re in contact with SMG’s command center in the arena.

Bids for installing WiFi are due in Aug. 8. A contractor will be chosen a week after that.

Finallly, SMG opened the long-sought downtown marina market July 2. The biggest criticism of Stockton’s marina when it opened, besides its preposterous cost, was the lack of any typical Delta market selling snacks, beer, sunscreen, bait, etc. Such markets are a fixture of any Delta marina. Now there’s a market, though it’s a pretty modest affair.

“It does have soda, water, ice and snacks, but not beer and wine, yet, Clark said. Though beer — without which any market is out of synch with the Delta boating market —  is coming, she said. “We’re continuing to work and go through the process with ABC.”

"Transcending Vessels." Photo: Michael Fitzgerald

A 100-foot long ribbon of wavy stainless steel water, buoying three ships representing different Stockton eras, the piece is supported by three giant rusty steel tule plants.

“I just try to distill the place down to its essence,” said Clapper, whom I spoke with last year. “I guess I thought that was Stockton.”

The piece, intended to create an “artistic gateway” for drivers entering Stockton from the north, is part of the city’s Thornton Road widening project, which is ongoing.

Bankruptcy delayed the project and increased the artwork’s cost to $184,495.

In the above-linked column, I called the concept “strong.” Having seen it, I’d revise that to “good,” which is perhaps unfair, as the heavy equipment is still on site and landscaping absent. But good is good, especially along scruffy Thornton Road.

Neighborhood reaction was favorable, if a bit unclear on the concept.

“I like it,” said Charmaine Lea. “Does it symbolize something?”

“It looks really cool,” said Anthony Bertolozzi, who added, “I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean, or anything.”

Stocktonian Charles K. Barnard's proposed logo for a CSU, Stockton

Stockton is one of the least educated big cities in the United States, a new study finds.

Wallet Hub ranked Stockton 143 out of 150 for educational attainment. In fact, five of the nation’s educational cellar dwellers — Modesto, Fresno, and Bakersfield and Visalia, too — are in the Central Valley.

Visalia ranked dead last at 150.  Which explains Congressman Devin Nunes.

This ignorance — for that’s what it is — is at the root of Stockton’s problems. It’s not the economy, stupid. It’s the uneducated, unskilled, unwitting workforce and electorate, which translates to a culture of mediocrity and incompetence. Low-paying, dead-end jobs, charlatans on the City Council (see: former Mayor Anthony Silva) and a cohort of populists with their weird combination of cynicism toward elites and gullibility towards any checkered character from their community who claims they care.

Most such bad actors would be left behind if the city had a deep bench of educated leaders. And educated voters. We’d have better policy and smarter urbanism. Not to mention the better jobs. Not just high-wage employers moving in, but organic start-ups, entrepreneurialism, inventors winning new patents and making improvements to Ag technology and who knows what else.

More prosperity, less poverty, lower crime. Higher earnings and savvy also translating into  increased political muscle. And a city that refreshes itself with youth who stay and enliven the scene instead of seeking education and prospects elsewhere.

Support a California State University, Stockton. Or, if you prefer Assembly member Susan Eggman’s vision, a California Polytechnic University, Stockton. If the campaign takes years, make sure your children carry it on. It’s the way up.

Closed every other Friday: Stockton City Hall

Lorne Truscott writes:

“Perhaps you could give us an update on the status of City of Stockton employees.  After the housing market imploded, and the City went bankrupt, city offices have been closed every other Friday.  Originally, this move was sold as being a money saving option for the City.  We’re not positive City employees took a pay cut, but maybe they actually did.  In any event, now that the City has emerged from bankruptcy, why are the closures still taking place?”

The city stopped “furlough Fridays” – unpaid days off every other Friday – years ago. When, yes, they did take a pay cut.

What they have now are “closed Fridays,” part of a “9-8” workweek. Employees work 9-hour days for nine straight days then take the second Friday off.

“The reason that we adopted that schedule was for air quality,” said Stockton city spokesperson Connie Cochran. Which state law requires all large employers to do.

Unlike a factory, City Hall can’t reduce smokestack emissions. But it can reduce the number of vehicle trips made by its employees. Closing on alternate Fridays reduces vehicle trips and greenhouse gas emissions.

Shalice Tilton in Pamplona, Spain. residents dress in ceremonial garb for the annual Running of the Bulls.

Manteca’s Shalice Tilton, 56, is another pilgrim who walked the Camino de Santiago, a medieval Christian pilgrimage trail. The trail leads to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain where tradition holds the remains of St. James are buried.

Unlike the Stockton and Linden women I wrote about, Tilton went the long route, starting just across the border in France, traversing all Spain.

Five hundred miles.

A retired City Clerk for the City of Buena Park, “Her friends, co-workers, and family all paid for her trip as a gesture of appreciation after nearly 30 years of service to the City,” writes her husband, Jeff.

“She started the Camino de Santiago on June 1 in St. Jean Pied De Port, France, and finished the 500 miles on July 11 in Santiago, Spain. The picture was taken in Pamplona, Spain, just prior to the annual “Running of the Bulls.”

A tamale and burrito at Mi Ranchito.

As I said in today’s column, Los Angeles writer Gustavo Arellano managed to write a book about Mexican food without visiting the Central Valley. But when he did, in this piece, it’s as if the food shook the scales from his eyes. Not only about food but the Central Valley itself.

“The one thing Central Valley gets credit for is being the anchor of the state’s $46 billion agricultural industry, where nearly all of the country’s table grapes, almonds, walnuts, pomegranates, and many other crops are grown,” he writes. “But it’s also an essential, underappreciated locus of Californian identity. Waves of immigrants over the past century — Armenians, Okies, Portuguese, Sikhs, Filipinos, Japanese, Hmong, and especially Mexicans and Central Americans — have established themselves in this country in the Valley’s fertile soil, meandering roads, and affordable housing. But narratives about the Central Valley as the state’s much-maligned-yet-vital backbone and as a hub of Mexican culture are erased again and again.”

Bingo. This region’s self-description is overmastered by Coastal interpretations that are often biased or skewed or, at the very least, leave a whole lot out. It’s like being an American consumer product without the ability to control the Madison Avenue ad campaign that defines our brand. It’s between interesting and amazing that our regional food can convey our true identity.